A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. Due to a hectic (but great) couple of weeks, I am posting the past two weeks of prompts here :-)

11/27/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- One day to work, then on vacation.

- Extended time with family, and visiting friends that are basically family too.

- Continuing to work on life rhythms and balances, including balancing out amusement and leisure activities.

11/28/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

I am grateful for the safe arrival of our friends, the time we spent with them last night, and the time we will spend with them in this week to come.

11/30/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

Our friend group that is together this week (including friends from out of town) have all pitched in throughout the week with various talents and skills to make this week fun and memorable.

12/1/2023

Affirmation: "God listens to me."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for a fun vacation visiting with friends that are family, and for a birthday celebration and convention to look forward to.

12/4/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- A day off today with out of town friends that are family.

- Getting into an Advent routine.

- One more weekend of acting at my seasonal job for the year.

12/5/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

- The time I had with family and friends on vacation.

- A return to some regular routines today.

- Coffee and podcasts.

12/6/2023

"What made you smile or laugh this week?"

- Attempting random songs in a karaoke game with friends.

- Watching a funny video with my wife and kids.

- Watching Nintendo High with my sons.

12/8/2023

Affirmation: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for powering me through this week despite exhaustion. Thank You for a little down time before I act for two more nights this year. Thank You for time with family and friends, and for the many resources You provide for connecting with You.

This chapter is part of "The Small Town Magic Arc." Links for prior chapters in this storyline can be found here: https://www.theprose.com/post/746871/the-small-town-magic-arc

Tamma beamed at the sight of the Aplonica Art Park, which also impressed the Pirate and his crew. They had briefly seen it while driving to the cafe upon their initial arrival, but there was more to see standing within the park itself. They once again marveled at the stage in the center, the small but impressive looking museum on one side, and the other side that showcased many colorful, abstract statues, along with a grand statue of Tamma with her father Mayor Jahno. What they missed on their prior drive by was another acre worth of green grass covered with more abstract art statues, and beyond that stood a stone bridge where an older gentleman was working on one of many paintings that stood against the side of the bridge.

"Hi Arte!" Tamma squealed, running to the gentleman and embracing him. "This is the Pirate, Rick, Cerissa, and Essie!"

"Ah, the heroes that have come to help us with our Cyclo problem!" Arte said gratefully as his eyes twinkled like Raul's did back in the cafe. "That beast has targeted this park repeatedly, so your assistance is greatly appreciated!"

"Happy to help Arte." The Pirate replied gently. "Are you the owner of this park?"

"Indeed I am." Arte grinned. "I try to raise the spirits of my fellow townspeople with my works here. Ah, here are a couple more that may be seeking solace through the arts!"

Two women approached the group, both smiling like the other residents that the crew had previously met.

"Hello Tamma, Arte, and our town's heroes! I am Kara, and I pastor the church near the entrance to Aplonica. I like to pray and meditate on how to serve my flock while taking in the beauty of this park."

"And I am Jean, and I own the Aplonica Hitching Post. Business has been rough with Cyclo lately, and this park brings me peace as I take in its beauty on my breaks."

"A pleasure to meet you all." Cerissa said warmly as the crew greeted both women.

"Things will get better soon, thanks to these guys." Tamma vowed to Arte, Kara, and Jean.

"I believe you heroes will be the answer to my prayers, along with Tamma for calling you here." Kara said with deep gratitude.

"Please stop by my hitching post sometime and pick out a gift from me." Jean added as happy tears flowed from her eyes. "It is the least I can do."

"My next sculpture will be of you and your crew Pirate." Arte said excitedly. "I will also pray for your protection, and a swift victory!"

Kara, Arte, and Jean bowed before Tamma and the crew before departing.

"The people of your town are very special." Essie said with wonder.

"They sure are, I can't wait to help them!" Rick added. "So Tamma, when is Cyclo coming to collect?"

"Tomorrow night." Tamma said, suddenly panicking. "I'm so sorry for the quick turnaround, will that work for you all?"

"Of course." The Pirate grinned confidently, his team doing the same. "So Tamma, how would you like us to tackle this?"

"Cyclo collects wages from the stage over there." Tamma said with a sense of reassurance. "Let's go up there and talk strategy. I have some ideas, but I would like you all to tell me if they are doable."

To be continued....

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

11/20/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- Thanksgiving with my family.

- A shorter work week, where I can read some Thanksgiving books to my students once more.

- Getting started on enjoying some Christmas stuff after Thanksgiving.

11/21/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

- God's presence during a challenging day yesterday.

- Getting a little writing in.

- Getting a bit more organized as far as podcast listening.

11/23/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

- Another teacher was a great help when classes were combined yesterday.

- Everyone's contributions to our feast today, I am very blessed. Happy Thanksgiving!

11/24/2023

Affirmation: "God listens to me."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for an enjoyable Thanksgiving with family and friends. Thank You for fun plans for the rest of the weekend, and the Christmas season to come.

"[7] But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears (‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬)."

Crying out to God for help during our darkest moments is definitely something I have done, and I am grateful that He has been there for me each time. I recommend doing this, but there is another good time to call out to God that I am working on being more consistent with. When something good happens in my life, and/or if I overcome a challenge or prior fear, I try to remember to thank God for the blessing He granted me. Case in point, I received a hockey jersey and ticket vouchers for my favorite team for going to donate blood yesterday. Even if the gifts weren't part of the equation, blood donation is important to me due to a blood transfusion that saved my wife's life in the past. I was worried that my blood pressure might not be cooperate enough to allow me to donate after the holiday, but thanks to Him, everything went perfectly.

Thank You Lord for being there during the hard times, and the good times too. Help me to always recognize Your presence, and acknowledge You during both. I am thankful to You for it all. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

"[5] And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: 'For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.' And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.

[14] 'Enough of this nonsense,' Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree ‭‭(2 Samuel‬ ‭18:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬)."

David certainly dealt with betrayal throughout his life, from being the betrayer in his affair with Bathsheba, to being the betrayed when his son Absalom stole his throne, and also being betrayed by his right hand man Joab when he ignored David's request to spare his son Absalom. Hopefully we aren't hit with the same extremes of betrayal that David experienced, but we will feel betrayal at some point in our lives, whether we are hurt by someone we love and/or count on, or whether we mess up and break someone's trust through our actions. We are in good company when we remember Peter's betrayal of Jesus when he denied him three times, and the betrayal of Judas after being one of Jesus' disciples. Jesus understands the pain of betrayal and can help us process it if we ask Him, and like His disciple Peter, we can still be redeemed from being betrayers in the past if we repent and turn to Him going forward.

Thank You Lord for being relatable for the times we have been affected by betrayal, whether we were the victim or the villain. Please forgive me for any times that I have been the betrayer, and thank You for walking with me through past betrayals that happened to me. Please help me to be a man of my word that is true to those I interact with, and please show me how I can bless and minister to those that have been hurt by betrayals in their lives. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

This chapter is part of "The Small Town Magic Arc." Links for prior chapters in this storyline can be found here: https://www.theprose.com/post/746871/the-small-town-magic-arc

Once the party finished their drinks, they thanked Raul and exited The Aplonica Coffee Bean & Brew for Tamma's tour of more of Aplonica's hotspots. Per her request, Mitch transformed into his Pirate form, Rick armored up with the use of his dark helmet, and Cerissa and Essie switched their outfits to their mage robes. Tamma hoped that the sight of the hired heroes would bring hope to the town that was being held hostage by Cyclo.

Tamma escorted the group to some of the businesses they drove by earlier to meet the locals that owned them. Their first stop was Eddie's Comic Expo. Rick was especially impressed with the shop's collection of comics and manga, along with a great selection of action figures that represented old and new comic and anime characters.

"Tamma, it's been too long!" Eddie grinned before embracing her. He appeared to be in his mid 30's. "And this must be the Pirate and his crew that are here to rescue us from Cyclo! They should get their own comic series and figures after this all works out!"

"Maybe when all of this is over, they will Eddie!" Tamma replied excitedly. "Just think, we will get our town back right in time for the upcoming convention too. Then any additional profits you get from that weekend will be yours, not Cyclo's!"

"Yeah, but I think I will try to help some of our other friends get back on their feet first." Eddie said warmly. "The influx of visitors from the convention crowd will help, but places like this comic shop will see more benefit than other businesses might."

"You're a good man Eddie." Rick responded. "I for one can't wait to come back and shop here. You have some great stuff!"

"Thank you sir, but your money will be no good here. If you guys free us from that monster though, any of my merch is on the house!"

The group said their goodbyes, then continued to Paula's Pizza Parlor, which Tamma hyped up as the best pizza ever made. Paula was a woman in her mid 60's that had the energy of someone in their 20's.

"Tamma, this is quite the impressive group you've summoned!" Paula exclaimed, embracing everyone else in the group after Tamma. She then gave everyone a free slice of pizza.

"You're right Tamma, this is the best pizza I have ever eaten!" Essie gushed.

"Thank you so much for treating us today Paula." The Pirate said kindly. "We promise to take your town back from Cyclo, and give you back the peaceful life you deserve."

"And thank you in advance for saving us." Paula said with deep gratitude. "When your work is done, please come back for a large pie - my treat of course!"

"Thanks Paula, looking forward to it." Cerissa beamed before they said their goodbyes once again. "Where to next, Tamma?"

"I want to show you the Aplonica Art Park. It is the focal point of not only our town, but also of our plan to defeat Cyclo once and for all."

To be continued....

"'[17] Is this the way you treat your friend David?' Absalom asked him. 'Why aren’t you with him?' [18] 'I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and by all the men of Israel,' Hushai replied (2 Samuel‬ ‭16:17‭-‬18‬ ‭NLT‬‬)."

Hushai was playing the role of double agent for King David during Absalom's rebellion, but he technically was telling the truth when he said "I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord (2 Samuel‬ ‭16:17‭-‬18‬ ‭NLT‬‬)," that man just happened to be David. David was chosen by God to be king, and just as Hushai was grateful to God for sending David for this calling, I am grateful to God for the pastors, churches, musicians, teachers, authors, podcasters, app creators, and any other kind of representatives that He has chosen to represent Him, as well as utilize to help spread His teachings and mission. If God also chooses to use my journals to inspire someone to grow in their faith, I will feel blessed to be worked through in this way.

Thank You Lord for those You have sent to help me grow closer to You in my faith, and thank You for Your willingness to partner with us to do the same. Please help me to not only continue to pursue You, but please also help me to pay it forward by helping others in their faith journeys with the abilities You have blessed me with, including writing. Please continue to show me how I can do this work of Yours. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

11/13/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- One week closer to Thanksgiving and vacation plans.

- New challenges to grow from.

- Time with family.

- Continuing to seek God and grow in my faith.

11/14/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

Thank You Lord for laughs with my kids, the opportunity to grow through the book study with my men's group, getting to write, and the sleep I am about to enjoy (it is currently 12:13 AM).

11/16/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

We had additional teachers on our field trip to the grocery store, and the additional backup made a huge difference.

11/17/2023

Affirmation: "I have been uniquely designed for a purpose."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for being with my family and me through the good moments this week, and the challenging moments too. Thank You for direction on what lies ahead, and thank You for blessings and company to look forward to.

"[27] When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done (‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭11:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬)."

Although David is considered one of the greatest heroes of the Bible, he was not without incredible flaws and failures, one of his biggest being in this chapter. After getting Bathsheba pregnant in an affair and setting up her husband Uriah to die in battle, the Lord wasn't pleased with His chosen king's actions. Despite his horrific sin, David later finds his way back to God's favor and retains his legacy. It is hard to read this story and not judge David, but it also reminds me that we all fall short, and we all make choices that displease God and cause pain for others. By repentance and turning to God for help with making better choices, we too can get back on track, as David did.

Lord, thank You for utilizing flawed people like David in Your story, and for bringing Your glory through them. Thank You for paying the price for my own sins through the death and resurrection of Your son Jesus. Please help me to repent and utilize Your grace to return to better decisions when I mess up. Please help me to show grace to others that need it as well. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

This chapter is part of "The Small Town Magic Arc." Links for prior chapters in this storyline can be found here: https://www.theprose.com/post/746871/the-small-town-magic-arc

"I'm sorry Dad, but we can't keep going on like this!" Tamma protested before the middle aged man that had just entered the cafe. "Even if I wasn't next on Cyclo's bargaining table, our people are struggling too much under his growing demands!"

"I know dear, but he has us in such a precarious position." The man known as Mayor Jahno Aplonica replied. "Calling warriors and mages here will only infuriate the monster, leading him to destroy our home and us. While I am sure these associates of Hugh's hero network are skilled, I doubt they fathom Cyclo's true power."

"With all due respect Mayor Aplonica, we are not pushovers either." Mitch said confidently. "We have spent an extensive amount of time training for a situation like this, and we are not only confident that we can free you, your daughter, and your people from your tormentor, but we are completely invested in doing so."

"Your boldness is admirable, but my daughter is taking a giant risk entrusting outsiders like you and your crew to take care of our giant problem, no pun intended. This could make things worse for those of us that actually live here."

"Honorable Mayor, can it really be much worse?" Rick asked slightly heatedly. "Isn't Cyclo trying to claim Tamma next? How could you be okay with giving up your daughter for someone that has no intention to stop taking whatever he pleases?"

"Young man, do you really think I would hand over my child to that beast?" Jahno replied angrily.

"How exactly did you plan on stopping him?" Rick asked, trying not to match the mayor's tone. "Making your struggling people pay even more?"

Jahno opened his mouth to reply, then stopped. He sighed, then said one more thing before leaving the cafe.

"If my daughter trusts in you, then I will do the same, for now anyway. I just hope we're not making a terrible mistake in doing so."

"I am so sorry about my father." Tamma said apologetically after his exit. "If you don't want to continue getting wrapped up in our problems, I understand."

"No worries Tamma, we are here until your town's problem is solved." Cerissa said reassuringly.

"Cyclo and your father will be shocked when our work is done." Essie added excitedly. "Trust me girl, we've got this!"

"Thank you." Tamma smiled as happy tears rolled down her face. "Let's enjoy our drinks and each other's company, then I'll show you more of the town. Then we'll talk strategy for how we'll make Cyclo's next visit his last."

To be continued....